Peter Houston vows to do all he can to help Scott Severin bounce back from triple leg break

DEVASTATED Dundee United boss Peter Houston last night vowed to do all he can to help save Scott Severin's career.

DEVASTATED Dundee United boss Peter Houston last night vowed to do all he can to help save Scott Severin's career.

Houston yesterday broke off from helping Craig Levein prepare for Scotland's friendly against Denmark to check up on the condition of the 32-yearold who suffered a horrific and career-threatening triple leg break on Saturday.

But the Tannadice boss - who has known Severin since coaching him for the Hearts youth set-up more than 15 years ago - is determined to help him back into top-flight football for the second time even though he faces a year on the sidelines.

Houston said: "I spoke to our medical people today. Scott has a triple break - tibia, fibula and ankle, low down. His metal plate has been inserted and he's been on morphine and isn't off that yet.

"He's very much in pain and discomfort but he'll be coming off the morphine soon. Our doctor and physio went to see him on Sunday night and he was feeling low, which is expected.

"He's gutted because he'd started the season well for us in midfield and did really well in the victory at Tynecastle.

"One of the reason he's so low is he knows he won't play again for a while.

"I've known Scotty since he was 17 and I was youth coach at Hearts. He captained the team which won the BP Youth Cup.

"Being 32, it's a concern for everyone but we'll give him every chance to complete his rehab properly.

"As soon as he gets out and he's pain free and he has a stookie on he'll be back doing exercises and getting in among the boys again because that will be the best thing for him.

"He'll certainly be given every encouragement from myself and the medical side to try to get back but we could be talking about a year out and his contract's up at the end of the season.

"That's something we'll need to look at but there have been no discussions between us.

"We need to think positively in the hope that Scott comes back because a lot of guys play past his age. He's always been a fit boy, although he's never been the quickest.

"He can do a job in defence or in midfield because his experience is invaluable - we're going to miss that.

"But in the short term we just want to him pain free and working hard whatever he decides to do."

Houston hinted he may have to push chairman Stephen Thompson into stumping up for more reinforcements following Severin's injury.

He said: "I need to get someone else in. I've lost David Goodwillie, although I'm hoping to tie up Gavin Gunning from Blackburn.

"Scott Allan has been a bonus for me the way he's come in and I still have Scott Robertson and Danny Swanson to come back but I need another striker.

"At the moment I have Jon Daly and Johnny Russell but that's a problem if one of them gets injured because below them I only have very young boys.

"The chairman's always saying we don't have any money but I'll need to get on the phone to him."

Meanwhile, Severin is expected to be released from hospital this morning after undergoing surgery on his broken leg.

The midfielder now faces six weeks in plaster before starting rehabilitation.

United assistant boss Gary Kirk was at the hospital yesterday and said: "A lot of the boys have been up to see him."